Yu-Mei Zhang

Inhibitory activity of eudesmane sesquiterpenes from Alpinia oxyphylla on production of nitric oxide

Sixteen eudesmane-type sesquiterpenes including seven new compounds oxyphyllanene A-G (1-2 and 5-9) were isolated from the fruits of Alpinia oxyphylla. Among them, compounds 1-2 are novel trinoreudesmane sesquiterpenes, and 5 is a noreudesmane one. Their structures were established by spectroscopic analysis, including 2D-NMR techniques. Inhibitory activity of compounds 3-8 and 10-16 were tested against nitric oxide production in LPS and IFN-γ-induced RAW 264.7 murine macrophages, and their IC(50) values ranged from 9.85 to 13.95 μg/ml.

Biologically Active Arborinane-Type Triterpenoids and Anthraquinones from Rubia yunnanensis

Twelve new arborinane-type triterpenoids (1-12) and four new anthraquinones (13-16), together with 50 known compounds, were isolated from the roots of Rubia yunnanensis. The structures of 1-16 were elucidated by spectroscopic data analysis and chemical methods. All compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic, antibacterial, and antifungal activities. Rubiyunnanol C (5) is the first example of an arborinane-type triterpenoid with a double bond at C-8-C-9.

Antimicrobial, Cytotoxic Lignans and Terpenoids from the Twigs of Pseudolarix kaempferi

Seven new compounds, including four lignans, (+)-(8S,8′S)-9,9′-dibenzoylsecoisolariciresinol (1), (+)-(8S*,8′R*)-4,4′-dimethyloxomatairesinol (2), (+)-(7S*,8R*,8′R*,9′S*)-9′-n-butoxytsugacetal (3), and pseudolarkaemin A (4), a pyronane glycoside, pseudolarkaemin B (5), an ent-beyerene glycoside, pseudolarkaemin C (6), and a triterpene, 25-epi-pseudolarolide Q (7), along with 25 known compounds (8–32) were isolated from the twigs of Pseudolarix kaempferi. Their structures were elucidated mainly by the analysis of their NMR and MS data. Pseudolarolide C acid (24) was isolated for the first time as a natural product. All compounds were evaluated for antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus, and cytotoxic activity against K562, HT-29, B16, BGC-823, BEL-7402, SGC-7901, U251, and A549 cancer cell lines were assayed. Results indicated that the new compounds 3, 7, and some known compounds showed antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities.

Zizimauritic acids A–C, three novel nortriterpenes from Ziziphus mauritiana

Zizimauritic acids A-C (1-3), three novel nortriterpenes with a unique A-nor-E-seco spiro-lactone ceanothane-type triterpene skeleton, together with 3 known triterpenes ceanothenic acid (4), betulinic acid (5), and ceanothic acid (6), were isolated from the roots of Ziziphus mauritiana. Compounds 1-4 showed cytotoxicities with the IC(50) values ranging from 5.05 to 11.94 μg/ml, and compounds 1 and 3 showed an inhibitory effect on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus with the IC(50) values 2.17 and 12.79 μg/ml. A plausible biosynthetic pathway of compounds 1-3 was proposed.

A new norlignan from Taxodium ascendens.

A new norlignan, (2R,3R,4S,5S)-2,4-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,5-dihydroxy-tetrahydropyran (1), together with 9 known compounds were isolated from the branches and leaves of Taxodium ascendens. Their structures were mainly determined on the basis of MS, IR, 1D and 2D NMR spectral evidences. Methanol extract showed inhibitory activity on carbonic anhydrase II with an IC(50) value of 4.27 microg/ml, acetone extract and methanol extract inhibited activity of cathepsin B with IC(50) values of 2.12 and 3.71 microg/ml, respectively.

The anti-arthritic effects of Aconitum vilmorinianum, a folk herbal medicine in Southwestern China.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Aconiti Radix (AC) and Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix (AK) are two traditional Chinese medicines commonly used to treat joint pain and arthritis. In Southwestern China, Huangcaowu (AV), the root of Aconitum vilmorinianum Kom., has long been used as a local substitute for these herbs for analgesia and anti-inflammation. However, its anti-arthritic effects have not been investigated. AIM OF STUDY To investigate the anti-arthritic effects of Huangcaowu (AV). MATERIALS AND METHODS Mono-arthritis in SD rats was induced by unilateral intra-articular injection of Freunds complete adjuvant. Physiological saline was injected in the contralateral knee. Seventy five percent ethanol extracts of AV (10 mg/kg/day and 100 mg/kg/day), AC (100 mg/kg/day) and AK (100 mg/kg/day) were administered to rats by oral gavage for 14 consecutive days (Day -6 to Day 7) while arthritis was induced at the seventh day (Day 0). The anti-arthritic effects of the herbs were assessed by measuring allodynia, swelling, hyperaemia and the vascular permeability of the knee joints. RESULTS AV (10 mg/kg/day and 100 mg/kg/day), AC (100 mg/kg/day) and AK (100 mg/kg/day) suppressed joint allodynia. AV (10 mg/kg/day and 100 mg/kg/day) and AK (100 mg/kg/day) significantly reduced join swelling and hyperaemia while AC (100 mg/kg/day) did not. AV (100 mg/kg/day) attenuated vascular permeability while AC (100 mg/kg/day) and AK (100 mg/kg/day) showed no improvement. CONCLUSIONS Huangcaowu (AV) significantly improved allodynia, swelling, hyperaemia and vascular permeability in arthritic knee joints. It showed the highest anti-arthritic effects among the three tested Aconitum herbs.

Three New Antiviral Triterpenes from Aster tataricus

Three new shionane-type triterpenes, shion-22-methoxy-20(21)-en-3-one (1), shion-22(30)-en- 3,21-dione (2), shion-22-methoxy-20(21)-en-3β -ol (3), were isolated from the rhizomes of Aster tataricus. Their structures have been determined on the basis of MS, IR, 1D and 2D NMR spectral evidences. Compounds 1 and 2 show inhibitory activities on HBsAg with IC50 values of 0.89 and 4.49 μgmL−1, respectively, 1 shows inhibitory activity on HBeAg with an IC50 value of 0.83 μgmL−1, and 2 shows inhibitory activity on HA with an IC50 value of 11.18 μgmL−1. Graphical Abstract Three New Antiviral Triterpenes from Aster tataricus

Chemical Constituents from Pedicularis rex C. B. Clarke

One new ionone glycoside, pedicurexoside (1), one new flavonoid, 5, 4′-dihydroxy-3′-methoxyflavone- 7-O-6″-n-butyryl-β -D-glucopyranoside (2), two new iridoid glycosides, 6-O-ethyl-aucubin (7), 6-O-ethyl-epiaucubin (8), and one new phenylpropanoid glycoside, 4-hydroxy-phenylpropenyl- α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→3)-4-O- feruloyl-β -D-glucopyranoside (13), together with eleven known compounds, apigenin (3), luteolin (4), chrysoeriol (5), luteolin-7-O-β -D-glucopyranoside (6), aucubin (9), yuheinoside (10), euphroside (11), mussaenoside (12), verbascoside (14), martynoside (15) and isomartynoside (16), were isolated from Pedicularis rex. The structures of 1 - 16 were elucidated mainly by 1D and 2D NMR techniques, MS evidence and chemical methods. The ionone derivative with thirteen carbon atoms was found in Pedicularis plants for the first time.

A new abietane diterpene from Glyptostrobus pensilis

A new abietane diterpene, glypensin A (1) and four known compounds, 12-acetoxy-ent-labda-8(17), 13E-dien-15-oic acid (2), quercetin 3-O-α-L-arabinofuranoside (3), quercetin 3-O-β-D-galactopyranoside (4), β-sitosterol (5) were isolated from the branches and leaves of Glyptostrobus pensilis (Staut.) Koch. Their structures were determined by MS, 1D- and 2D-NMR means. Compound 1 showed cytotoxicity on human chronic myeloid leukemia cell line K562 (IC(50) = 21.2μM).

Astershionones A-F, six new anti-HBV shionane-type triterpenes from Aster tataricus

Six new shionane-type triterpenes, astershionones A-F (1-6), were obtained from the roots and rhizomes of Aster tataricus. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data, mainly NMR and MS data. The absolute configuration of 1 was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and CD analysis. 3 showed inhibitory activity against HBsAg and HBeAg secretion with IC50 values of 23.0 and 23.1 μM, and cytotoxicity against HepG 2.2.15 cells with a CC50 value of 170.5 μM. 3 also exhibited inhibitory activity against HBV DNA replication with an IC50 value of 22.4 μM.